A CORNISH MP is taking the matter of football all the way to Parliament after concerns about corruption at the World Cup have arisen.

North Cornwall’s Liberal Democrat MP Ben Maguire has announced that he has officially tabled a Parliamentary motion calling for FIFA to "uphold sporting integrity" and "root out corruption".

It comes following reports that the suspension of the USA men’s national team’s star striker Folarin Balogun was overturned after political intervention by Donald Trump.

Balogun received a red card in the team’s World Cup match against Bosnia-Herzegovina following a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic.

The Cornish MP’s Early Day Motion raises concerns about political intervention in the sport, as well as expressing wider concerns about the growing cost of attending major international tournaments, warning that many lifelong supporters are being priced out of watching their national teams.

His motion, which has received the backing of other MPs who recognise the strength of the issue, also calls on FIFA to ensure sporting decisions are taken independently, transparently and free from political influence, while taking stronger action to uphold integrity and restore confidence in the governance of the game.

Mr Maguire has said that the actions risk ‘undermining confidence in the integrity of the game’.

He said: "Football belongs to its supporters, not Donald Trump or Gianni Infantino. Any suggestion that political pressure has influenced decisions on the world's biggest sporting stage risks undermining confidence in the integrity of the game.

"I have therefore tabled this Parliamentary motion calling on FIFA to demonstrate its decisions are transparent, fair and free from outside influence. Key decisions, including where the World Cup is hosted, are too often taken behind closed doors. At the same time, football must remain accessible to ordinary supporters rather than becoming something only the very wealthiest can afford to experience."